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Rams fire coach, GM after another dismal year

Rams fire coach, GM after another dismal year

ST. LOUIS (AP)—The St. Louis Rams fired coach Steve Spagnuolo and general
manager Billy Devaney on Monday, a day after the team wrapped up a 2-14 season
tied for the NFL’s worst.

The Rams made a six-win improvement last season and played for the NFC West
title in the finale, but were just 10-38 overall in three seasons with Spagnuolo
and Devaney calling the shots. Devaney joined the front office in 2008, but the
Rams were 12-52 in his four years as GM.

“It’s amazing how easily it all could have gone the other way and this
would be a totally different meeting at the end of the year,” defensive endChris Long said. “And, maybe we are still playing. It’s a fine line between
being good and bad in the NFL, and we’ve learned that over the past couple of
years here.”

Rams owner Stan Kroenke fired both men with one year remaining on their
contracts, and with fan interest dwindling. The Edward Jones Dome was been about
half-filled much of the year.

“No one individual is to blame for this disappointing season and we all
must hold ourselves accountable,” Kroenke said in a statement issued by the
Rams. “However, we believe it’s in the best interest of the St. Louis Rams to
make these changes as we continue our quest to build a team that consistently
competes for playoffs and championships.”

Players said Spagnuolo took the high road in a meeting Monday morning.

“Coach addressed the team this morning to let us know that he was
terminated and he was sorry, especially for the guys that have been here the
entire three years he was coach, that he didn’t get the job done,” running backSteven Jackson said. “He took full responsibility.”

Next April, the Rams will have the second pick of the draft, the fourth time
in five seasons with the No. 1 or 2 selection. The premium picks, including
quarterback Sam Bradford, have not been enough to make up the frequent miscues
and a puny offense run by first-year coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Names of potential replacements for Spagnuolo began to surface weeks ago as
the season unraveled, with Jon Gruden and Jeff Fisher linked as naturals given
their relationships with chief operating officer Kevin Demoff and agent Marvin
Demoff.

Spagnuolo was considered a defensive whiz after an impressive performance by
the Giants in a Super Bowl upset of the unbeaten Patriots in 2008, and got a
four-year contract for his first head coaching job. The Rams were 1-15 in 2009
while undertaking a massive overhaul, then made a six-victory improvement in
2010, and entered this season viewed as NFC West contenders.

Instead, they were swamped by a difficult schedule, losing their first six
in a row, and also by injuries at quarterback, the secondary and the offensive
line.

Cornerback Ron Bartell, who sustained a season-ending neck injury in the
opener, re-signed as a free agent with the Rams because of his respect for
Spagnuolo.

“I love coach Spags to death but at the end of the day when you don’t get
wins this is what happens,” Bartell said.

Spagnuolo was criticized for devoting too much time to the cosmetics of the
job. He pushed for a $1 million renovation of the stadium locker room the team
uses 10 times a year, and surrounded himself with a new trainer, public
relations head, building operations manager and equipment manager.

Yet the players said they believe the foundation is here for a good team.

Long, among the league leaders with 13 sacks, said Sunday that the 49ers’
quick turnaround can serve as inspiration. San Francisco made a seven-victory
jump and is the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC after going 13-3, including a
season-ending win in St. Louis.

“You’re never as far away as you think in this league,” Long said. “It’s
super competitive. They came out of nowhere and now they’re in the playoffs and
have a shot.”

Devaney loaded up with free agents last summer in an effort to augment a
team that was in the division race to the end but had too many misses.

The offense was the NFL’s worst, with or without Bradford. The defense was
the NFL’s worst against the run, threatening the franchise record for yards
allowed. A pair of special teams failures were devastating, a blocked field goal
on the potential game-winner and a 99-yard punt return, in an overtime loss at
Arizona.

The Rams put everything together once for a 31-21 upset over the 13-win
Saints, even with backup A.J. Feeley calling the signals. Jackson became the
seventh player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons
despite the personnel upheaval and Long and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis
also had good years.

But the team’s depth was tested immediately when leading wide receiver Danny
Amendola and Bartell were lost for the year and Jackson injured his quadriceps
on his first carry in a season-opening loss to the Eagles

“We’ve got a lot of guys that unfortunately were banged up,” Laurinaitis
said. “I think a full offseason together will help. I don’t think 2-14 reflects
this team if everyone is healthy. We’ll see.”